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Dana Rongione 24/06/2024 Dana Rongione 24/06/2024

Grounded in Faith

Jason has always loved his coffee, but lately, he's become a bit of a coffee nerd. I suppose that's not the nicest way to put it, but it's true. In the past, he was content with a simple pour-over method - put a filter in the pour-over, add the coffee grounds, pour hot water over the top, and add a splash of milk. Easy peasy. But not anymore.

Now, Jason insists on a much more detailed process to get the perfect cup of coffee. It starts with measuring the coffee beans and then misting them with water. Next, he grinds the beans to a specific coarseness. Then, he heats the water to a precise temperature (not too hot, not too cold). Finally, he pours the water over the grounds in timed increments, 100g at a time. It's like a science experiment!

Dana Rongione 20/06/2024 Dana Rongione 20/06/2024

Helpless But Hopeful

At the time of this writing, it is three days before our biggest community event of the year. I’ve been planning and preparing for weeks, hoping to iron out every wrinkle so the day will run smoothly and successfully. But you know what the Bible says about man's plans, right?

About a week and a half ago, my back decided to throw one of its fits. This wasn't its everyday pinch, sting, and ache. This was lying flat in the bed for an entire week! Yup, a whole week where I couldn't work on the mountain of things that needed to be done. Oh, how helpless and frustrated I felt.

After a visit with my osteopath, I finally started feeling some relief and could start pecking away at a chore here and there as long as I took long rest and stretch breaks in between.

Dana Rongione 17/06/2024 Dana Rongione 17/06/2024

Tightrope Trusting

As I was doing my Optimize Your Day routine this morning, I looked out my office window and saw a large bird land on the overhead power line. This power line isn't very taught, and the wind was blowing pretty hard. The bird tried to steady itself, but it was a comical sight. Its tail feathers were pointing and flexing, and its wings would occasionally shoot out to steady itself. It was like watching a tightrope walker trying to keep their balance or a child trying to swing for the first time.

This lasted several seconds until the bird finally gave up and flew off. As I watched this, I couldn't help but think about how often I feel like that bird.

Dana Rongione 13/06/2024 Dana Rongione 13/06/2024

Reaping a Harvest of Joy

Today, I want to talk about something that's been on my mind lately: the power of our thoughts. When I start my day off with negative thoughts and complaints, it sets the tone for the rest of the day. I find myself getting easily frustrated, angry, and bitter. On the other hand, when I start my day with positive thoughts and gratitude, it's amazing how much better my day goes. (This is one of the main reasons I created the Optimize Your Day program!)

Galatians 6:7 says, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." In other words, what we put out into the world, we will eventually receive back.

Dana Rongione 10/06/2024 Dana Rongione 10/06/2024

Looking Up When Life Weighs You Down

One of my favorite things to do here in Wales is visit old castles. There’s just something about the history and architecture that fascinates me. But as much as I love exploring these ancient structures, I always end up with a pain in my neck the next day.

When you're walking around a castle, you're constantly looking up. You're admiring the tall towers, the intricate carvings, and the beautiful stained glass windows. But, after a while, all that looking up can take a toll on your neck (especially if you already have neck issues).

Life can be the same way. We want to be positive and keep looking up, but sometimes, circumstances causes such a pain in the neck that we find our gaze slipping down to the depths of despair. Our “eyes fail with looking upward.”

Dana Rongione 06/06/2024 Dana Rongione 06/06/2024

Houdini Strikes Again

We've finally had some nice weather here in Wales, and Tess and I have been taking full advantage of it. We were outside enjoying the sunshine the other day when I heard a soft whimper. I looked up to see Tess standing on the opposite side of the fence, crying to get back in. Despite our best efforts to secure the fencing, that little booger had found a way out again!

Honestly, I was frustrated with her. She knows she's not supposed to go outside the fence, yet she continues finding ways to escape. But as I watched her standing there, whimpering and looking at me with those big, brown eyes, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of compassion.

Dana Rongione 03/06/2024 Dana Rongione 03/06/2024

Journey Through the Middle

Have you ever felt stuck in a rut? Like a hamster on the wheel, you’re going through the motions but not really making any progress. I’ve been there. In fact, I’m there right now, and it can be discouraging, to say the least. But here's the thing: Sometimes, being stuck in a rut is a necessary step toward where God wants us to be. Just look at the story of Joseph.

Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers and sold into slavery. He ended up in Potipher's house, where he was eventually falsely accused and thrown into prison. But even in prison, Joseph rose to the top. He became the keeper of the prison, overseeing all the other prisoners.

Dana Rongione 30/05/2024 Dana Rongione 30/05/2024

From “If Only” to “Thank You”

Have you ever caught yourself saying, "If only I had done this" or "If only I had said that"? I know I have. It's easy to get caught up in the "if only" game, especially when facing a difficult situation or looking back on a mistake we've made.

But here's the thing about "if only”—it's a trap. It keeps us stuck in the past, dwelling on what could have been instead of focusing on what is. And it can rob us of the joy and peace God wants us to have in the present.

That's why I'm trying to replace "if only" with two different words: “Thank you.” Instead of dwelling on what could have been, I'm choosing to be thankful for what is. And I'm finding that it makes all the difference.

Dana Rongione 27/05/2024 Dana Rongione 27/05/2024

Rooted Downward and Bearing Fruit Upward

“And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:” - Isaiah 37:31 KJV.

As I reflect on Isaiah 37:31, I can't help but be reminded of the significance of anchoring ourselves in the Word of God. Just as a tree needs strong roots to grow and flourish, so must we be firmly rooted in the truth of God's Word.

When we read, study, and meditate on the Bible, we nourish our souls and allow the Lord to shape and mold us. We also equip ourselves to bear fruit that will last, both in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.

Dana Rongione 23/05/2024 Dana Rongione 23/05/2024

When Screens Go Dark, Look to the Light

Last week, during our ladies’ retreat, my computer screen (projecting the various songs, Scripture, and images on the wall) kept timing out and going dark. I knew there was a simple setting to stop it from doing that, but I couldn’t find it for the life of me. Jason looked for it with equally fruitless results. I googled it, but that only resulted in information about changing particular settings that weren’t even showing up on my computer. Good grief!

On the second day, I was nearly at my wit’s end, so I did another search and stumbled upon another option to try. Lo, and behold, after selecting a single option, there was the simple click I’d been looking for.

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Dana Rongione